Showing posts with label DeVon Franklin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DeVon Franklin. Show all posts

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Jennifer Garner Begins Filming Christian Movie 'Miracles From Heaven'

Jennifer Garner is set to star in the Sony Pictures drama, "Miracles From Heaven," based on a book with a similar name. The film is scheduled for release on March 18, 2016, a week before Easter.

The actress is believed to be a practicing Christian as she has been spotted leaving church services in the past and also had her children baptized at her family's church in Charleston, West Virginia.

"Miracles From Heaven" is being produced by Joe Roth, T.D. Jakes and DeVon Franklin, who were behind the 2014 hit film "Heaven Is for Real," which grossed more than $101 million at the box office.

It tells the story of Annabel Beam, a little girl from Texas, who claimed she met Jesus after a tragic fall. She was also miraculously cured of a life-threatening digestive disorder after the accident. Her incredible story of faith and overcoming adversity is retold in her mother Christy's memoir: Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing.

During an interview with The Christian Post in April, 12-year-old Annabel recalled falling headfirst 30 feet inside a hollowed-out cottonwood tree while playing with her sisters on the family farm in Texas. Miraculously, she escaped without injury and later told her parents that she went to heaven and sat in Jesus' lap after the accident.

"I remember it was really bright and I saw my Mimi (her grandmother) who had died a couple of years back, and that's how I knew that I was in heaven," Annabel told Christian Post. "And I asked Jesus if I could stay and He said: 'No Annabel, I have plans for you on Earth that you cannot fulfill in heaven.' Then he said whenever the firefighters get you out there will be nothing wrong with you."
"... We believe that I was healed in the tree. I'm completely healthy [now] and I can eat whatever I want," said Annabel, who credits faith for her recovery. "I want people to realize that no matter how bad things get, don't ever lose that faith because He has a plan … you have to stay faithful and have hope because those are the things that will get you through whatever you're going through, no matter what it is."

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Top Hollywood Exec Says Christians Must Produce True-to-Life Stories to Engage Entertainment Industry

A top Hollywood studio executive has called on Christians to focus on producing real, well-written, true-to-life stories to really capture the attention of the entertainment industry.

"I absolutely believe that a lot of times, when it comes to faith-based content, we portray sometimes the ideal of what we believe," DeVon Franklin, senior vice president of Production for Columbia Tristar Pictures, said during a panel on Christian engagement with the media, at the NRB International Christian Media Convention on Monday.

"We all have gone through tragedy, we all have gone through trauma, some of us are in pain right now – because life is not where we want it to be. Some of us are depressed, some of us are angry, some of us are frustrated, some of us have lost some loved ones, we all have gone through massive things that have happened to us."

Franklin, who oversaw notable films like "Sparkle," starring Whitney Houston in her last on-screen role, as well as "The Karate Kid" remake, and "The Pursuit of Happyness," and who is now helping with the upcoming film "Heaven is for Real," said Christians need to get beyond the points that divide them.

"If we aren't united, we will continue to see little blips on the radar, but fail to make a significant impact," he stressed.

Although Christians are making strides this year with a lot of content coming out in theaters, including "Son of God" this week, "Noah" in March and "Heaven is for Real" in April, there is still a lot of work to be done to really engage the entertainment industry, he said.

"It's not good enough to say 'I'm a Christian writer.' You have to be a great writer, a great director, a great actor. And I think part of what God has called me to do is try to really help because if we can make great content, [it] will break down barriers," he continued.

The Columbia Tristar VP insisted that if a film fails to represent the true journey of life, which is hard, then that movie will have a limited impact.

"So in faith-based films, we try to present an image of what we want to be, but not the reality of what really is. If a movie does not acknowledge the reality of life, even us as Christians, we won't want to see it."

The NRB panel was moderated by author, filmmaker Phil Cooke, also included Michael Harrison and Russell Moore.

Harrison called for authenticity and transcendence.

"Be authentic, and transcend the petty differences and the petty goals that separate us and create hostility. Be authentic, seek truth ahead of victory," he said.

"I think the business of broadcast industry will be best served if it's on the side of good, if it tries to help people, and talks about solutions to problems as opposed to the problems with other people. If we do that, I think ultimately we will be successful, healthy, and move in a positive direction."

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Friday, January 18, 2013

Deception's Meagan Good Opens Up on Personal Life

Meagan Good has been promoting her new show "Deception" recently, but does not shy away from speaking about her recent marriage and how she believes God ordained it to happen.

Good, 31-year-old actress who is married to Hollywood film executive and preacher DeVon Franklin, recently appeared on "The Wendy Williams Show" where she opened up about her husband.

"DeVon is a preacher but he doesn't have a congregation. He does speaking engagements. We met six years before on a Christian film and he called me into his office and told me if I needed anything to definitely let him know," Good told Williams. "Then we met again when he executive produced 'Jumping The Broom.' And here we are."

The actress has been vocal about many details of their marriage that took place last June. While she wanted to keep some details private, Good spoke about panicking when her husband asked for her hand in marriage.

While Good said she dated Franklin for 10 months before exchanging vows, she also spoke about remaining celibate before they officially became husband and wife.